Great Construction

The Italo-Ethiopian War
and the Illusions of Liberals*

     Among those who profess the political ideology of liberalism are those who affirm thusly. In the Italo-Ethiopian War, that the Italians were able to gain victory with unstoppable momentum was based on the power of science. Therefore, the state should put primary emphasis on science education, and if it does not, Japan will end up as Ethiopia did, is what they say.
     Such a low, grade-school level of argument! The simplicity of such a critique shows even Ethiopian ignorance.
     How do we view the Italian victory? It is nothing other than the decline of liberal countries like England contrasted with the resolute stance of Fascist Italy. Was not it England that trembled and shilly-shallied around as the Italians faced unyielding economic pressure and in the face of economic sanctions dealt resolutely with the posturing of the English Mediterranean Fleet? These facts are a good example of how much liberalism weakens the nation state.
     Look at France. See how terrified France is of Nazi Germany. Just like an hysteric woman! As with England, France is a good example of the fate of liberal nation states.
     What do these facts teach us Japanese? This is also very simple. Global trends point to the decline of liberal nation states which also is being accompanied by the rise of non-liberal nation states. No matter how much liberalism tries to regain the splendor of its past, such an undertaking would be even more difficult than trying to bring back the Tokugawa Shogunate in Japan.
     The social perspective of liberalism is individualism, and that of non-liberalism is totalitarianism. Thus is liberalism a fragmenting consciousness. Non-liberalism is a spirit of cooperation, a tendency toward control.
     Liberalism is the prayer of those who want to maintain the status quo. If Japan took a policy position of maintaining the status quo, it would become a second England or France. Japan would forfeit the leadership of East Asia. Japan is rising, however, and it must grow limitlessly and be a strong national state. Along with the annihilation of liberalism, this growth must also mean a totalitarianism based on harmony among the classes, unity of military and civilian sectors, and regulation by the nation state. Arguments that include Ethiopia have nothing to do with Japan. The danger is liberalism as represented by countries like England. A consciousness, an awareness of this danger is important. The theoretical issues that remain after we have denounced this danger are what we must consider, is how I view the situation.

Naigai Kôron, Volume 15, June Issue, June 1, 1936
translated by cynndd

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*Meishu-sama uses “liberals” and “liberalism” as political science terminology here to refer to the class of political philosophies that consider individual liberty and equality to be the most important political goals and not in the North American political party usage of “left-wing.”